Saskatchewan leaders disappointed at defeat

Page 3

The defeat of the Charlottetown accord is not the end of self-government, it

just means the process will be delayed, said Roland Crowe, chief of the Federation

of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

His organization recommended that people both participate in the process and

vote yes.

"I found it difficult that our own people abstained or voted no," he said.

It was defeated for a number of reasons, including the fact that westerners were disappointed at the powers the package granted to Quebec, Crowe said.

The no vote was not a vote against self-government on the part of white society, nor was it a vote against the leadership of Ovide Mercredi, grand chief of the Assembly

of First Nations who negotiated the constitutional deal, Crowe said.

"He's torn apart right now," Crowe said of Mercredi.

"We in Indian country have to give someone some support and respect. We can't give these people these mandates and then try to oust them. We have an obligation and a moral duty to stand behind them."

At the annual assembly of the FISN, which immediately followed the referendum,. a motion of support for Mercredi was passed.

To Perry Bellegarde, district representative of the Touchwood File Hills Qu'Apelle Tribal Council, the referendum's defeat means his people are no closer to having their treaties honored.

"We viewed it as the only way to get our treaties honored and implemented. We have a bilateral relationship with the crown already. We just want to get the treaties honored," Bellegarde said.

The no vote was partially a rejection of aboriginal self-government, but there were other main reasons the accord failed, he said.

"It's a reflection of the overall mood across Canada. There's a lot of mistrust and apprehension among the people. Quebec was holding everybody for ransom," Bellegarde added.

Ron Rivard, executive director of the Metis National Council, said he is very disappointed and frustrated at the accord's defeat, but he doesn't view it as a rejection

of the inherent right to self-government.

"The people of Canada have spoken. They've probably lumped some of their peeves, like the GST, (Brian) Mulroney and unemployment into that two-letter word: NO. I don't think you can isolate it to one aboriginal issue or item. It's a combination

of all those issues," Rivard said.

The council will continue to press for aboriginal rights but the plan for now is to put the constitution aside and concentrate on the economy and international trade.